Karen Herman is CEO of Gustie Creative, an advisory and consultancy dedicated to design focused growth for brands, businesses, creative agencies, real estate firms and nonprofit organizations.

She works with owners, operators and stakeholders to create exceptional design, marketing and retail solutions that engage, educate and sell products and services. Completed projects range from under $1M to over $330M. Clients include Calvin Klein, Inc., KPMG, New York Athletic Club, New York Palace Hotel, MediaPost Publications and Zimmerman Advertising.

In 2013, Karen founded Gustie Creative, a boutique design and strategy firm that specializes in Disruptive Retail. In 2015, She designed the highly innovative Live Media Trading Room for Zimmerman Advertising in Fort Lauderdale, FL. In 2017, Karen launched Create Disruptive Retail, a digital app with curated content on Disruptive Retail news, trends and solutions for the global user.

She is author of "The Disruptive Retail Field Guide" (available in March 2026) as well as “Solutions for Disrupting Disruption, The Essential Guide for Brands and Businesses” and “The Definitive Guide to Disruptive Retail Workbooks.” Karen hosts DisruptShop Workshops online and offline and supports design innovation as a member of AIGA, the RetailWire BrainTrust and The Writers Guild.

Karen has been interviewed or quoted in Forbes, HFN Digital, NPR Marketplace, Independent Retailer, Mashed, Off-Price Retailing, SHOP Podcasts, South Florida Business Journal and Voyage MIA. She is an avid golfer and enjoys playing socially and competitively in South Florida.